Intraocular Lens

Cataracts, the leading cause of blindness -especially when it comes to old people- affects many people. Today, it can successfully be treated with surgery, and intraocular lens is a part of the surgical procedure that is applied to treat this condition. On this article we will be providing you with the basic information you will need about intraocular lens.

What is Intraocular Lens

A part of the cataracts surgery, an intraocular lens -also known as IOL- is an artificial replacement for the lens of patient’s eye. Most intraocular lenses are made of acrylic, silicone, or other plastic compositions. These lenses are coated with special material, with the aim of protecting the patient’s from the sun’s UV rays.

Types of Intraocular Lens

There are several types of intraocular lenses, which are:

Monofocal IOL: Monofocal intraocular lens is the most common lens implant type. This implant -unlike the patient’s natural lens- cannot stretch/bend to help the eye focus, but instead, it just stays focused on a fixed distance. Because of this, patients who get this type of intraocular lens might need glasses afterwards.

Multifocal implant: Multifocal lens has areas that help the patient see things at varying distances. It should be mentioned that it can take several months for the brain to actually adapt to the new vision so it seems natural. Multifocal implant can sometimes cause more glare/halos around lights (when compared to the monofocal lens)

Accommodating IOL: A flexible option as the name suggests, accommodating IOL acts like the eye’s natural lense; focusing on more than just one distance. Patients who get this type of intraocular lens are less likely to need glasses while reading, etc.

Toric IOL: People who have astigmatism get this type of intraocular lens. Toric IOL lessens astigmatism.

Cataracts Surgery With Intraocular Lens

The procedure usually involves the following:

Numbing of the eye,
Giving the patient a drug so he/she can relax
Making a tiny cut through the patient’s cornea (to be able to reach the lens)
Breaking the lens into smaller pieces, than removing the pieces
Putting the implant in its place

The cut heals by itself- no stitches are necessary. This is usually an outpatient operation, which means the patient can walk out of the hospital the same day as the operation. But patients need to keep in mind that, they shouldn’t be driving right after the operation. For the best after-surgery advice, always talk to your doctor.